Tick, Volume & Range Bars on Tradovate Charts
Time-based candles aren't the only way to read a futures market. Here's how to switch a Tradovate chart to tick, volume, range, momentum-range, or seconds bars, step by step.
Time-based candles aren't the only way to read a futures market. On a Tradovate chart you can swap the clock for bars that print on activity instead: a fresh bar every so many trades, every so many contracts, or every time price travels a set distance. A quiet overnight session barely moves a 1-minute chart, then the open dumps ten candles' worth of action into one bar. Activity-based bars even that out, and they're a couple of clicks away.
What Each Custom Bar Type Does
Every bar type answers the same question in a different way: what makes the current bar close and a new one start? Tradovate groups these under the same Interval control you already use for minutes and hours.
| Bar type | A new bar prints when… | Handy for |
|---|---|---|
| Ticks | a set number of trades (ticks) have executed | Uniform bars in busy contracts; strips out slow periods |
| Volume | a set number of contracts have changed hands | Weighting bars by real participation instead of time |
| Range | price has moved a fixed distance, measured in ticks | Cleaner trends and support/resistance; quiet chop makes fewer bars |
| Momentum Range | price moves a set range, tuned to catch directional pushes | A range variant; formation can differ from a plain range bar |
| Seconds | a set number of seconds have passed | Sub-minute time bars for fast scalping |
Except for Seconds, none of these track the wall clock. That's the point: a thin market prints fewer bars, and heavy volume prints more detail right when it matters.
How to Switch to Custom Bars, Step by Step
Open a Chart and Load Your Contract
Add a Chart module and type in the symbol you want, say ES or NQ, then pick the front-month contract.
Open the Interval Dropdown
Hover over the chart and left-click the interval button in the toolbar, near the top-left and usually the third button from the left. That opens the Interval dropdown, where the bar types sit alongside the minute presets.
Pick a Tick-Based Bar Type
Inside the dropdown, intervals are grouped by data type. Under the tick group you'll find Ticks, Volume, Range, Momentum Range, and Seconds. Click the one you want. The minute presets and a Custom Time option stay one group up if you want to go back to time bars.
Enter the Custom Amount
Choosing any tick-based type pops up a small prompt asking for the amount that defines each bar. Type the number and confirm:
- Ticks: trades per bar (for example, 500).
- Volume: contracts per bar (for example, 1,000).
- Range and Momentum Range: the price distance in ticks (for example, 4).
- Seconds: seconds per bar (for example, 15).
Reuse and Fine-Tune
Once built, a custom interval drops to the bottom of the Interval dropdown as a recent timeframe, so you can flip back without retyping. From there, stack whatever you read the market with on top.
Custom bars change how the chart looks, not how your fills work. A 500-tick bar still fills at live prices, and your data still depends on your market-data subscription, so a delayed feed draws delayed bars.
Which Bar Type Should You Use?
Scalping and want every burst broken out? Tick or volume bars show detail a 1-minute chart hides. Trading structure over speed? Range bars filter the sideways noise so trends and levels stand out. Momentum Range suits a range-style chart that leans into directional moves, but it behaves differently from a plain range bar, so test it on a demo first. Seconds bars sit in between, still time-based but faster than a minute.
Automate What You See on the Chart
Reading activity-based bars is one thing. Acting the instant your setup prints is another, and that's where clicks cost you. PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight into your Tradovate account, so the entries and exits you map on the chart fire as real orders on their own.
Automate What You See on the Chart
Reading activity-based bars is one thing, acting the instant your setup prints is another. PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight into your Tradovate account so entries and exits fire on their own.
Start Your Free 5-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
No. Tick, volume, range, momentum-range, and seconds intervals are part of the built-in charting, same as the minute presets. You'll still need a real-time market-data subscription for live bars, and those costs vary by exchange and account type, so check what your plan covers.
That's expected. Range bars ignore time, so a quiet session prints a handful of bars while a volatile one prints a stream. If the count feels off, raise or lower the tick distance in the interval pop-up.
Layouts shift between updates and across web, desktop, and mobile. It's the interval indicator in the chart's toolbar, near the top-left, showing your current setting. Hover the chart, click it, and the Interval dropdown opens.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.